Mac OS X forum: DVD software problem (PBG3, Firewire)

"why the OS versions I reinstalled seem to have installed DVD software along with the rest."

I can easily guess why it did that. It's too likely that Apple makes a fine install routine that works for all machines and it would be a lot more work to develop specific CDs for the few machines that can't do this or that.

To cover that issue, they'll just write an Apple note (which you may have read.)

Bob

It's the Install disk that came with the PowerBook, so it's specific to that computer model. The installers for 9.1, 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 are, if I recall correctly, just stuff that I got from the Apple Web downloads site, where the only specifics are for American English vs. International English, not PB vs. desktop. I downloaded the American English ones.

The closest I got to actually playing a disc was when the Controller indicated that it was loading, but it never finished the task, and I had to quit the application in the end. Sometimes, I couldn't even quit and had to restart the Mac.

After that it was downhill all the way, but something always happened to indicate that the PB was at least trying either to load the disk or (when it never showed up on the desktop) recognize that there actually was a disk.

I was wondering, though, if I were able to uninstall all on the HD that pertains to DVD players and reinstall (selectively, I hope) it from the 9.0.4 Install disk and the updates I have, that might clear up the problem. I am sure that having different versions of the player could disrupt everything, so maybe my installation of 2.4 was a mistake? If you could tell me how to do the uninstall, I could then try reinstalling the various versions of the OS but not DVD Player 2.4. I hope that I don't have to do another clean install of 9.0.4, though. The last one was like pulling teeth and very time consuming, as you can imagine.

Thanks for everything to you, Pete, and to Bob, too.

Jenny

To answer your questions:

I have no idea whether the PB played DVDs when it was new. As I said, I tried playing one only last week. By the way, the original system was 9.0.4, not 9.0.2.

I, too, wondered about whether the problem was hardware related, and the first place I looked was the System Profiler. Yes, the drive shows up there. You are the expert, but my observation of the problem has convinced me that whatever ails the DVD function, it is software related. I suspect that my installing version 2.4 of the DVD software may have been the problem, because I found two versions of DVD Player on the computer (and there may well be two of some of the other DVD-related files).

I did a clean reinstall earlier this week, though I also installed the OS updates and DVD version 2.4--that last, possibly the criminal in the case. It took forever to put things back into the new System Folder, so I don't have the time to do that again anytime soon. Maybe there's another way? A way to install only the DVD-related software from the original disk? I was hoping that if I removed all the DVD stuff now on the HD, I might be able simply to replace it without going through the whole clean reinstall process. Do I gather that's not on?

If I understand you correctly, though, I can update the non-DVD parts of the System Folder to 9.2.2 by dragging anything that doesn't pertain to the DVD drive from the Previous System Folder to the new one? (I really don't want to go back to 9.0.4 just to be able to play DVDs on my laptop.) And that if I have 9.2.2 software for everything but the DVD, that will be OK?

Also do you have any suggestions for where I can get a list of the DVD-only extensions, control panels and other DVD-related system items? Sooner or later, I'll be able to take the time to follow your plan, and that information will keep me from anything I shouldn't when that time arrives.

Sorry about all these questions. I'm really not inattentive, nor stupid, but I admit freely to not being well-informed (I try to learn) in many matters relating to system functions. Your help is very much appreciated.

Best,

Jenny

ok,
Your machine, as you have discovered, uses a Software based solution to playing DVD's
The lastest version for this type is 2.2, which you have.

The atrictle that deals with the player and the software is TIL 26201.

I'm pretty sure there is NOT an uninstaller for the software but if you go to the Extensions Manager and turn OFF everything that has to do with CD's or DVD's, trash any DVD player folder and then reinstall 2.2 you may discover something.

A clean install is mentioned as a trouble shooting technique in one of the other TIL's.

I cold not find a list of the apps or extensions that any of the DVD players installed.

P